Chimney Swift Towers

New Habitat for America's Mysterious Birds

By Paul D. Kyle

Publication Year: 2005

Chimney Swifts, birds that nest and roost in chimneys, have been historically abundant in North America. But by the late 1980s, the number of swifts migrating to North America from the Amazon River Basin had declined.
A growing number of people across North America are now constructing nesting towers and conducting Chimney Swift conservation projects in their own communities. With Chimney Swift Towers, concerned bird conservationists have a step-by-step guide to help them create more habitat for these beneficial, insect-eating birds. Chimney Swift experts Paul and Georgean Kyle give directions for building freestanding wooden towers, wooden kiosk towers, masonry towers, and other structures. Included are
- design basics,
- lists of materials needed,
- useful diagrams and photographs,
- and detailed instructions on site preparation, tower construction, installation, and maintenance.
Anyone with basic woodworking or masonry skills and an interest in wildlife conservation will find this publication helpful. That includes do-it-yourselfers, homeowners involved in creating backyard habitat for wildlife, landscape and structural architects, park and wildscape managers, wildlife management area professionals, nature centers, garden centers, scout troops, and other civic organizations in search of community service projects.

Monitoring Roost and Nest Sites

"WE OFTEN SAY that observing Chimney
Swifts is “a pain in the neck.” This is literally true
because most of their activity takes place high above
treetop level. One must be constantly looking up to..."

Site Report Form

"It is important to gather as much information on structures that were not used as on those that were. By comparing the characteristics of both categories of structures, we will learn which new features are important to the nesting success..."

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